ENGINEERING group Bechtel Australia has received high praise from industry support body Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ), for the innovative training program Bechtel implemented during the construction phase of the Curtis Island LNG plant project.

Bechtel Australia won the Employer of the Year Award at the 2013 Queensland Training Awards.

Bechtel invested more than $2.3 million in training on the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project between July 2011 and February 2013, providing opportunities for more than 350 workers to participate in accredited training each month.

CSQ CEO Brett Schimming said Bechtel will also have one of the largest intakes of apprentices in Australian history through its adult apprenticeship program.

Mr Schimming said a construction employer winning the award illustrated the strong training culture that existed across the state in the building and construction industry.

“Bechtel are a great example of construction employers in Queensland committed to maximising the training outcomes of major projects for the wider community,” Mr Schimming said.

“In addition to offering on the job training to the apprentices, the company has helped a further 350 workers each month to develop new skills and progress their careers,” he said.

“We congratulate the Bechtel team on their hard work and dedication to training which will help to ensure a lasting legacy of skills for the Gladstone construction industry.”

During the project, CSQ has provided funding towards two ‘apprentice coordinators’ dedicated to apprentice and trainee management and mentoring.

“The coordinators played a key role in ensuring Bechtel has a framework in place to support the needs of their apprentices,” Mr Schimming said.

At an early stage, Bechtel identified challenges in recruiting the large number of steel fixers required by the project. With funding support from CSQ, the company developed a purpose built program to train existing workers on the project in steel fixing.

Mr Schimming said industry upskilling was a key focus for CSQ.

“Resource related infrastructure projects continue to face significant skills challenges that can only be met by harnessing the capacity of our existing workers,” he said.

“While many of the skills from residential and commercial construction are transferable, some training may be necessary to make the transition into the engineering construction sector of the industry.

“With funding support of civil construction training programs and industry short courses, we are providing opportunities for workers to upskill and gain the right skills mix to take advantage of work prospects on major projects.

“Across Queensland we are working to ensure we have a construction workforce capable of meeting the skills demands of the future,” Mr Schimming said.

CSQ recently outlined a $52.5 million investment in skills development over the next 12 months for the state’s building and construction industry.

CSQ has published details of its Annual Training Plan investment on its website.

 www.csq.org.au 

CONSTRUCTION Skills Queensland (CSQ) has released its 2013-2014 Annual Training Plan, outlining more than $52 million to be invested into skills development as the construction industry enters a period of unprecedented change.

Brett Schimming, Construction Skills Queensland CEO.

As the construction industry's peak body in the state, CSQ will invest more than $52.5 million in training and skilling initiatives to assist Queensland's building and construction career seekers, apprentices, workers and employers over the next year.

More than $29.6 million of the funding will be directed to helping workers adapt to changes in the industry and build their skills through a range of short courses, skills assessment and gap training, higher level skills training and civil construction training.

Growth in the resource and construction engineering sector in recent years has seen an influx of workers transitioning from the residential and commercial areas of the industry which have faced softer conditions.

CSQ CEO Brett Schimming said while there is an evident increase occurring in resource and construction engineering, the residential and commercial construction sectors are also beginning to show signs of growth. 

"Total industry employment has grown by 3.1 percent, or 7,000 persons, year on year to May 2013," Mr Schimming said.

"The Annual Training Plan aims to help industry meet work requirements now and into the future.

"Resource related infrastructure projects continue to face significant skills challenges that can only be met by harnessing the capacity of our existing workers," Mr Schimming said.

"While many of the skills from residential and commercial construction are transferable, training may be necessary to make the transition into the engineering construction sector of the industry.

"Through the Annual Training Plan we are providing opportunities for workers to upskill and gain the right mix of skills to take advantage of work prospects on major projects.

"It's important to note however that over the next decade, it is population growth that is expected to fuel growth in the industry rather than resource projects. This should see activity in residential and commercial construction rise again," he said.

As growth returns to these areas, Mr Schimming said the industry would encounter a different range of challenges to those faced during the last residential and commercial construction boom.

"Our research has shown that the way we build is evolving and green and sustainable environments are as much about waste management as they are about environmental practice. Materials are also changing, as are the methods of construction themselves.

"Not only are components increasingly produced off site, but entire houses are being prefabricated to support the booming needs of mining and energy project workforce housing.

"New technology is being used to support these practices, and everywhere businesses are looking to build smarter and reduce waste.

"The Annual Training Plan is addressing these changes in the industry, offering a number of short courses to help workers comply with new safety and licensing requirements and adapt to cutting edge building practices," he said.

Mr Schimming said to meet these emerging skills demands, apprentices and workers must not be lost to other industries.

"It is vital that we have a skilled workforce in place to meet the demands of future growth in the residential and commercial construction industry," Mr Schimming said.

"The Annual Training Plan will see CSQ invest more than $11.6 million in initiatives to help employers retain their workforce.

"We will also invest more than $6 million in initiatives to continue to help attract new workers to the industry," he said.

www.csq.org.au

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